Machine for making box-blanks.



No. 775,622. PATENTED NOV. 22, 1904.

B. E. FLORA.

MACHINE FOR MAKING BOX BLANKS.

APPLICATION FILED APR. 7, 1904. N0 MODEL. k I 12 8HEETS-SHEET 1.

No. 775,622. PATENTBD NOV. 22, 1904.

Y E. E. FLORA.

MACHINE FOR MAKING BOX BLANKS.

APPLIOATION FILED APR. 7, 1904. N0 MODEL. 12 SHIBE'IBBHEET 2.

No. 775,622. PATENTED NOV. 22, 1904 E.E.FLORA.

MACHINE FOR MAKING BOX BLANKS.

APPLICATION FILED APR. 7, 1904.

N0 MODEL. 12 SHEETS-SHEET 3.

No. 775,622. PATENTED NOV. 22, 1904.

' E.E.FLORA.

MACHINE FOR MAKING BOX BLANKS.

Y APPLICATION FILED APR. 7, 1904.

N0 MODEL. 12 SHEETS-SHEET 4- L V lnll "Wanna a a 4!!!!22 ZZZ)" M072 272;,

'No. 775,622. PATENTBD NOV 22, 1904. E. E. FLORA.

MACHINE FOR MAKING BOX BLANKS.

APPLICATION FILED APR. 7, 1904.

NO MODEL. 12 SHEETS-SHEET 5.

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PATENTED NOV. 22, 1904.

' E. E. FLORA.

MACHINE FOR MAKING BOX BLANKS.

APPLICATION FILED APR. 7, 1904.

12 SHEETS-'-BHEET 6.

N0 MODEL.

WZ 02 3% Z 32 fiWM PATENTED NOV. 22, 1904.

E. E. FLORA.

MACHINE FOR MAKING BOX BLANKS.

APPLICATION FILED APR.7,1904.

l2 SHEETS-SHEBT 7.

N0 MODEL fizz/8722 021 ZZZ; warz iz fi'a ra,

W, V Z @625? PATENTED NOV. 22, 1904.

E. E. FLORA.

MACHINE FOR MAKING BOX BLANKS.

- APPLIUATION FILED APR. 7, 1904.

12 SHEETS-SHEET 8.

N0 MODEL.

No. 775,622. PATENTED NOV. 22, 1904.

. E. E. FLORA. Y

MACHINE FOR MAKING BOX BLANKS.

APPLICATION FILED APR. '1, 1904. N0 MODEL. i2 SHEETS-SHEET 9.

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\5 fizvazzir: A 30 i 5 A flizyzyorgglj iora, aizy No. 775,622. PATBNTEDNov. 22, 1904.

- E.E.FLORA.

MACHINE FOR MAKING BOX BLAN-KS.

APPLICATION FILED APR. 7, 1904. I M) MODEL. 12 SHEETS-SHEET 10.

L2 L 7 ll 62 m "III 77 4h." "L a Z'ZZxworZ Z'fiara,

PATENTED NOV. 22, 1904.

E. E. FLORA. 'MAGHINE FOR MAKING BOX BLANKS.

APPILIGATION FILED APR. 7, 1904.

12 SHEETS-SHEET 11.

N0 MODEL! ZZZ; war lfia 75a,

N0 MODEL" E. FLORA.

MAGHINE FOR MAKING BOX BLANKS.-

APPLIGATION TILED APR. 7, 1904.

PATENTED NOV. 22, 1904.

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UMTEn STATES Patented November 22, 190%.

PATENT Orrrce.

ELLSVVORTH E. FLORA, OF CHICAGO, ILLINOIS, ASSIGNOR TO VVILLIAIVI P.HEALY, OF CHICAGO, ILLINOIS.

IVlACHlNE FOR I MAKING BOX-BLANKS.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 775,622, dated November22, 1904:.

Application filed April 7,1904. Serial No. 202,088. (No model.)

To all who-1n it 77mg concern:

Be it known that I, ELLSWORTH E. FLORA, a citizen of the United States,residing-at Chicago, in the county of Cook and State of Illinois, haveinvented a new and useful Improvement in Machines for Making Box-Blanks,of which the following is a specification.

This invention relates to an improvement in machines for makingbox-blanks of the general type shown in Figures 38, 39, and of thedrawings. The blank consists of a sheet of thin wood or the like in oneor more sections and provided on one side toward opposite edges withlongitudinally-extending reinforcing cleats. In the case of a very largebox-blank one or more additional cleats may be provided between the edgecleats. Coincident with the cleats on the opposite side of the blank arebinding-wires fastened in place with staples or the like, which staplesstraddle the wires and pass through the sheet into the cleats. When onlythe edge cleats are employed, the box-blank may have one or moreintermediate strengthening-wires fastened to the sheet only by staples,as indicated in Fig. 40. It may be here stated that when the blank hasbeen formed in the present machine it is passed through astep-miteringmachine, which forms step-miters in the cleats and a groove in thesheet, as indicated by dotted lines in Fig. 39', at which step-mitersthe blank may be folded to form four sides of what is known in thetrade, as a wire-bound box, the projecting ends of the bindingwiresbeing twisted together to hold the opposite edges of the blank together.The box is completed by fastening box ends to the end cleats.

In the present machine the wooden strips which are to form the cleatsare placed in guides upon the feeding-bed of the machine and the firstsection of the sheet placed thereon. The machine in runing causes thesheet and cleats to be fed forward beneath simultaneously fedbinding-wires, which latter are stapled in place, the staples alsooperating to fasten the sheet to the cleats. At those points along theblank where the step-miter cuts are to be made the machine operates tofeed the blank without driving staples, .in order that there shall be nostaples in the blank in the way of the step-mitering knives or saws.

My object is to provide a generally improved machine for makingbox-blanks of the character described which shall be of a particularlysimple, durable, and economical construction, involving comparativelyfew parts and well adapted for its purpose.

Referring to the drawings, Figure 1 is a partly sectional side elevationof the machine, the section being taken on line A in Fig. 3; Fig. 2, anelevation of the opposite side of the machine; Fig. 3, a frontelevation; Fig. i, a section on line B in Fig. 3; Fig. 5, a plan sectiontaken on line Cin Fig. 1; Fig. 6, an enlarged broken section taken online D in Fig. 1, showing the clutch mechanism for the upper shaft; Fig.7, a section taken on line E in Fig. 8, Fig. 8, an end view of aclutch-sleeve, shown in Fig. 6; Fig. 9, a view in elevation of arock-shaft detail of the clutch mechanism shownin Fig. 6; Fig. 10, abroken sectional view of one end portion of the upper shaft; Fig. 11, abroken sectional elevation of clutch mechanism and means for actuatingthe same at the proper time for preventing the driving of staples, thesection beingtaken on line F in Figs. 3 and 6; Fig. 12, a broken sectionon line G in Fig. 11; Fig. 13, an enlarged perspective view of one ofthe adjustable skipper or spacing blocks shown in Fig. 11; Fig. 14:, anenlarged section on line H in Fig. 5; Fig. 15, an enlarged brokensection on line I in Fig. 5; Fig. 16, a side elevation of an adjustablecentral saddle; Fig. 17, a broken view showing one of the saddlesupports or yokes; Fig. 18, a broken section taken .on line J in Fig.14; Fig. 19, an enlarged f is a pulley t'.

taken on line K in Fig. 3, the same as Fig. 19, but with the face-plateshown in Fig. 19 removed; Fig. 23, a section on irregular line N N inFigs. 21 and 22, showing one of the staple formers and drivers; Fig. 24,one of the staple forming and driving bars; Fig. 25, a section on line Pin Fig. 22; Fig. 26, a section on line Qin Figs. 21 and 22, showing thestaple-wheel-turning mechanism; Fig. 27, a broken plan view of theforward part of one of the cleat-guides, showing the means for adjustingthe guide-strip thereon; Fig. 28, a section on line B in Fig. 21 throughone of the staple-wire and staple-forming mechanisms; Fig. 29, a sectionno line S in Figs. 21 and 28, showing the face of the staplewire-cutter; Fig. 30, a broken view in elevation of a movablestaple-wire cutter-bar; Figs. 31, 32, 33, and 3 1, sections taken onlines T in Figs. 35 and 36 and showing the steps in the operation offorming and driving a staple; Fig. 35, a broken edge view of one of thestaple-wheels; Fig. 36, a broken section of the box-blank, showing, by asufliciently large view, the way the staple is driven over thebinding-wire to avoid splitting the wood; Fig. 37 an enlarged sectiontaken on line Rin Figs. 21 and 29, the view showing some of the partsalso shown in Fig. 28; Fig. 38, a plan view of the completed box-blank;Fig. 39, an edge view of the same, showing step-miter cuts in dottedlines; and

Fig. 10, a section on line U in Fig. 38.

The main frame of the machine consists of the side cheeks a I), fastenedtogether by means of tie-rods 0 and cross-bars d and 37. The machine isdriven by power applied to a main drive shaft e in the lower part of theframe. The shaft receives its power at a pulley f, Figs. 2 and 5, whichis loose upon the shaft, but may be locked thereto by a sliding clutchg, actuated from the pivotal lever it. On the end of the shaft 0opposite the pulley Journaled in the upper ends of the checks is a shaft12. On the end portion of the shaft is (see Figs. 6 to 11, inclusive) isa sleeve Z, provided in its outer face with a longitudinally-extendingkeyway m and on its inner face with a semicircular groove n. In theshaft within the sleeve is a semicircular groove 0. On the shaft atopposite ends of =.the sleeve Z are collars p and 9, provided withbearing-openings for a rock-shaft 1*, which is cylindrical at oppositeends and semicircular between its ends. On the inner end of therock-shaft r is a crank-arm s, projecting through a flaring slot 6 inthe collar q. A spring it tends to hold the rock-shaft r in a positionwherein its semicircular intervening .part extends into the groove 12 ofthe sleeve,

thus clutching the sleeve and shaft together.

. It will be understood that when the crank s is turned from the,position shown in Fig. 11 to the top of the slot 6 it rocks the shaft 1"to disengage the shaft from the sleeve l, whereby the shaft will remainstationary while the sleeve rotates. On the sleeve l is a pulley e,which in operation is belted to the pulley to be driven thereby. Also onthe sleeve Z are eccentrics 20 m, which are driven by rotation of thesleeve. On the shaft 7r: between the checks are eccentrics g Extendingacross the frame in the position shown is a bar 1, fastened at its endsby means of bolts to the cheeks a Z). Toward opposite ends of the bar 1near the checks are sliding yokes 2 2, provided on opposite sides withfeathers 3 3. (See Fig. 18.) Fitting over the .yokes to slide verticallythereon are saddleframesat. (SeeFig.14.) Extendingthrough a threadedopening in each yoke 2 isa screw 5, which at its upper end bears againstthe under side of the bar 1 to clamp the yoke in adjusted position. Thescrew 5 passes loosely through an opening in the lower end of therespective saddle 4:, and on the screw beneath the saddle is a nut 6,which may be turned to slide the saddles vertically upon the yokes.Extending through elongated openings in the saddles at opposite sidesare clamp-screws 7 tapped into the yokes, whereby the saddles may befastened in adjusted position, and thus take a large part of thedownward strain from the screws 5. Fastened to the saddles 4 to beraised and lowered therewith are cleat-guides 8. (See, for example,Figs. 23, 27.) The cleat-guides 8 are L-shaped in cross-section and areprovided at their inner edges with the laterally-adjustable guide-strips9. On the bar 1, toward the center thereof, is a yoke 2, constructedlike the yokes described, though somewhat narrower, over which fits avertically adjustable saddle 10, constructed as shown in Fig. 16.Extending from the saddle 10in the forward direction is an intermediatecleat-guide 11, which may be employed when an intermediate cleat is tobe fastened to the box-blank. The saddle 10 and cleatguide 11 may beraised and lowered upon the central yoke 2 in the same manner as the endsaddles.

12 12 are upper feed-shafts journaled at opposite ends in the cheeks a band provided beyond the said cheeks with pinions 13. 141 14 are lowerfeed-shafts journaled near opposite ends in boxes 15 15 in the cheeks a7). The boxes 15 slide in openings 16 in the cheeks and rest onset-screws 17, whereby they may be adjusted in the vertical plane. Onopposite ends of the shafts 14 are pinions 18. 'On the cheeks a and 7)between the pinions 13 are idle gear-wheels 19, and also upon the cheeksbetween the pinions 14 are gear-wheels 20, fixed upon a shaft 21, journaled in bearing-openings in the cheeks between the openings 16. Thegears 19 and 20 mesh with each other and with the pinions 13 and 18, asshown, at each of the cheeks a I). On the shaft 21 beyond the cheek a isa ratchet wheel 22. Extending downward from the eccentric a is a rod 23.and fulcrunied at its end on the shaft 21 is a pawl-lever 24, having anelongated slot 25, to which the lower end of the rod 23 is adjustablyfastened. The lever 24 carries a pawl 26, engaging the ratchet 22. Onthe upper and lower feed-shafts are laterally-adjustable feedrollers 27,those onv the upper shaft being grooved to pass over the binding-wires,as hereinafter described.

From the foregoing description it will be understood that by raisingandlowering the end saddles 4 and also the intermediate saddle 10 thecleat-guides may be raised and lowered with relation to the upperfeed-shafts 12, thus raising and lowering the lower feed-shafts, wherebycleats and sheets of different thicknesses may be employed and properlyfed through the machine. The set-screws 17 and 7 are loosened beforesuch adjustment is made and tightened after such adjustment. The upperfeed-shafts 12 pass through bearing-openings 28 in the end saddles, andin the said bearing-openings are bearing-blocks for the up per sides ofthe shafts adjusted by set-screws 29. The object of the set-screws 29and bearing-blocks in the openings 28 of the saddles is to preventspringing of the shafts 12 while blanks are passing through the machine,particularly when the saddles are adjusted some distance inward from thecheeks. Set into openings in the cleat-guides at the saddles are anvilblocks or plates 30 for clenching the staples, as hereinafter described.

Sliding in guides on the cheeks a b is a vercally-reciprocatingcross-head 31, provided on one side with a dovetailed rib 32, andprovided on its opposite side at the lower edge with a groove 33, Fig.19. The cross-head 31 is connected with the eccentrics y 2 by adjustableconnecting-rods 34. The connecting-rods 34 are rendered adjustable as tolengthin a common manner to regulate the throw of the cross-head.

In the machine, as shown, there are provided three staple forming anddriving devices 35. As these devices are all constructed alike, it willonly be necessary to describe in detail the construction of one. 36 is ablock or frame mounted and laterally adjustable upon the bar (Z and alsoresting upon a stationary bar 37, extending across the machine. Fastenedagainst the block 36 is a face-plate 38. In the block is a circularrecess 39. The block and face-plate form between them a verticalguide-opening 40, and the face-plate is formed with a verticalguide-opening 41, all as shown in Figs. 22 and 25. Journaled upon ashaft 42 and rotating in the recess 39 is a staplewheel 43. Thestaple-wheel is provided in one face with a series of radial slots 44 atan angle to the face of the wheel, as shown most plainly in Figs. 22 and35. In the slots 44 on opposite sides are staple-guiding grooves 45. Ex-

tending around the periphery of the staple wheel 43 is a groove 46 tooverride the hinding-Wire passing beneath it, as hereinafter described.47 is a vertically-reciprocating bar provided at its upper end with arecess 48, forming a hook to engage and slide laterally in the recess 33in the cross-head 31. On the bar 47 in the position shown is alaterallyprojecting staple former or bender 49, and at the lower end ofthe bar is a laterally project ing staple-driver 50. 51 is a rodthreaded at its upper end to pass through a block 52, which is mountedupon the dovetailed strip 32, carried by the'cross-head 31 to slidethereon for purposes of adjustment. The rod 51 may be raised and loweredin the block 52 for purposes of adjustment. The lower end of the rod 51is T-shaped in cross-section, as shown in Fig. 21, to fit and slidevertically in the guide-opening 41. On the lower end portion of the rod51, Fig. 26, is a latch or plunger 53, carried by a spring 54, which isfastened against the rod 51. The latch 53 is adapted to engage with theradial slots 44 in the staplewheel to turn the latter in the rise of thecross-head 31, as hereinafter described. On the end of the shaft 71; isa cam 55. On the upper end of the cheek b is a bracket 56, upon which isfulcrumed a lever 57 in the path of the cam 55. On the lever 57 is anadjustable sliding block 58, with which is pivotally connected aconnecting-rod 59. On the cheek Z) is a stub-shaft 60, on which isjournaled an integral ratchet and gear wheel 61. Fulcrumed on thestub-shaft 60 is a pawl-lever 62, provided with an elongated slot atwhich the lever is connected with the connecting-rod 59. The lever 62carries a pawl 63, engaging the ratchet 61. 64 is a shaft journaledtoward opposite ends in the cheeks a b and provided beyond the cheek I)with a pinion 65, meshing with the gear-wheel on the stub-shaft 60.

The wire 66 from which the staples are to be formed may be provided uponspools mounted in any convenient way, as indicated in Fig. 1. On theshaft 64 are wheels 67 presenting the gears 68 and peripheralwire-engaging grooves, as shown in Fig. 20. On each block 36 is a plate70, having a grooved stapleforming opening 69, and in the intermittentturning movements of the staple-wheel 43 the staple-receiving slots 44are carried successively into register with the under side of theopening 69. On each plate 70 is a journal-bearing 71, surrounding theshaft 64. On the under side of the plate 7 O of each staple forming anddriving device is a pivotal jaw 72, adjustable to raise and lower bymeans of the screw 73, Fig. 22. The jaw 72 forms a bearing for a roller74, having teeth forming a pinion and a peripheral groove 75 registeringwith the peripheral groove in the wheel 67 for engaging the staple-wire.Mounted upon the plate 70 is a wire-guiding tube 76 terminating at anadjustable head 77. The head 77 forms a vertical guide for averticallymovable cutter-bar 78. The head 77 is bolted to the plate 70in T-grooves 79, (shown in Fig. 29,) the T-grooves extending diagonallyalong the plate, as shown in Fig. 21. This permits the adjustment of thehead to cut the wire for different length staples. On the bar 47 is alaterally-extending arm 80, and the cutter-bar 78 has an offset 81,which extends over the path of the arm 80. The cutter-bar is heldnormally down by a spring 82, as shown in Figs. 26 and 28. In the lowerend portion of the cutter-bar is a flaring opening 83, (see Figs. 30 and37 and the said opening moves past a cutting edge 84 in the head 77.

The operation of the machine thus far described is as follows: Thewooden cleats 85 are placed in the cleat-guides 8, and the first sectionof the sheet 86 (if in more than one section) placed thereon. The endsof the cleats and forward edge of the sheet-section should be pressedinto the bite of the upper and lower feed-rolls 27. The machine may bestarted by turning the lever It to operate the clutch g, when the shaftswill be caused to rotate. The rotation of the shaft 72 reciprocates therod 23 and causes it to move the pawl 26 to turn the upper and lowerfeed-shafts intermittingly. This turning of the shafts feeds the cleatsand sheet along beneath the staple forming and driving devices 35.Before starting the machine strengthening-wires 87 are passed attheirends beneath the grooves in the staple-wheels 43. In the rise and fallof the cross-head 31 staples are formed and driven, the operation beingas follows: In each rotation of the shaft k the cam 55 raises the lever57 and connecting-rod 59 to turn the ratchet and gear wheel 61 to rotatethe pinion 65 and shaft 64. In the rotation of the shaft 64 the wheels67 and 74 are rotated to feed the staple-wire 66 through the tube 76 andhead 77 beneath the cutting edge 84 and aldng a V-shaped groove 88 inthe plate 70, which is bisected by the opening 69. In the upwardmovement of the cross-head, following this operation, the bar 47 of eachstaple forming and driving device is raised to raise the cutterbar 78against the resistance of the spring 82 and shear off the wire at theedge 84. At the time that the wire is severed it extends in the groove88 across the forming-opening 69 in the plate over the staplewheel 43.The slot 44 of the staple-wheel, which then extends uppermost, registersin position to receive the staple-forming arm 49 as it passes downwardthrough the opening 69. In the downward movement of the cross-head thestaple-forming arm or projection 49 moves from the position shown inFig. 31 to the position shown in Fig. 32, wherein it bends the severedstaple-wire 66 downward into the grooves 45 of the then upper verticalslot 44, as shown in Fig. 32. In the next upper movement of thecross-head the latch 53 engages a groove 44 and turns the staple wheeluntil the next groove is in the vertical position. As will be seen byreference to Fig. 22, there are ten grooves 44 in the staple-whee], andalthough this particular number is not necessary they should be in evennumbers, whereby the wheel will always present two vertical grooves 44,one above and one below a central recess 89 in said wheel 43. When thebar 47 is in its raised position, the driving arm or projection 50 is inthe wheel-recess 89, so that the turning of the wheel is not obstructedthereby. After a staple has been formed as described, it remainsin thestaple-wheel during a one-half revolution thereof. In the downwardmovement of the bar 47 the driving projection 50 moves into and throughthe then lowest vertical groove 44 and engaging the top of the staple,(shown in Fig. 33,) drives it downward over the bindingwire 87 andthrough the sheet 86 and cleat against the anvil or clenching-block 30.The driving of one staple is performed while another staple is beingformed, as described. Thus as the blank is being fed along with thestrengthening-wires staples are formed and driven at suitable intervals,as described.

As before stated, no staples are to be driven into the blanks at thepoints where step-miter cuts are to be made. Therefore at the pointswhere those cuts are to be made the driving of staples is withheld whilethe blank is fed along. This operation is brought about in the followingmanner and by the following mechanism: On the cheek a is a stub-shaft90, upon which is journaled a skipper-wheel 91 in the form of aratchet-wheel, provided in one side with an annular T-groove 92, Figs.11 and 12. The T-groove 92 receives the heads of bolts 93, carryingspacing skipper-blocks 94three of one length and one of greater length,as shown in Fig. 11. The blocks 94 have tongues 95, which fit theT-groove 92 and have beveled heads 96, as shown. By loosening the nutson the bolts 93 the skipper-blocks may be moved to any desired positionon the ratchet 91. Extending into the path of the crank s of therock-shaft 9'', carried by the shaft 76, is one arm of a swingingbell-crank lever 97.

Extending from the other arm of the bellcrank lever is a pivotal rod 98,pivotally connected at its lower end with a lever 99, fulcrumed at onthe cheek a. On the lever 99 is a beveled lip 101 in the path of theskipper-blocks 94. Extending downward from the eccentric w is aconnecting-rod 102, pivotally connected at its lower end with a lever103 at an elongated slot 104 in the latter. The lever is fulcrumed uponthe stub-shaft 90 and carries a pawl 105, engaging the ratchet'91. Ineach rotation of the shaft is the ratchet 91 is turned by the pawl 105to advance the skipper-blocks intermittingly. block engages the lip 101.it raises the lever 99 and turns the bell-crank lever 97 into the pathof the crank s. This causes the crank s in the rotation of the sleeveland shaft to be rocked and disengage the shaft is and sleeve Z, wherebythe shaft [if is caused to stop while the sleeve rotates. During thetime that the said shaft ceases to rotate the cross-head 31 will remainquiescent and no staple-wire will be fed or staples formed or driven.When the respective skipper-block has passed beyond and releases the lip101, the bell-crank lever 97 is swung out of the path of the crank 5,permitting the latter to be turned by the spring a to clutch the sleeveand shaft, whereby the shaft is once more driven.

As the machine is illustrated in the drawings, the parts are adjusted toturn out boxbla'n'ks of the greatest length and width within thecapacity of the machine, and the skipper blocks or spacers, as shown inFig. 11, are adjusted for blanks intended when folded to form the sidesof a box square in cross-section. Each of the three shorter blocks 94operate to stop rotation of the shaft 70 during a single revolution ofthe sleeve Z and drivepulley 1:, whereby at the respective points alongthe blank the machine skipS that is to say, fails to drive one stapleover each binding-wire. The longer block 94 may be about three times thelength of the shorter blocks and operates to stop the shaft 70 as theblank ends pass across the staple-drivers. As a blank passes out of themachine an operator snips the binding-wires, and, owing to the skippingof staples, binding-wire ends are left long enough to insure properfastening of the sides when the blank is folded to form a box. Thesmaller skipper-blocks 94 may be adjusted to any position along thegroove 92 with reference to themselves and the longer block 94, so thatboxes oblong, as well as square, in cross-section maybe formed.

In machines of this class as hitherto provided the staple forming anddriving mechanisms have been of such complicated construction that theyhave been hard to keep in running order. The present staple forming anddriving mechanism is particularly simple and certain in its operation.The staples are formed in the forming-openings 69 in the top plate 70,and there is no strain or jar on the staple-wheel 43, which merelypresents guide slots 45, into which the staples are slipped when formedand out of which they are thrust when driven. By gearing all the upperand lower feed-rollers together at opposite ends, as shown anddescribed, the blank material is firmly gripped from above and below andfed along without danger of any slip which would tend to disarrange thestaples. The distance of feed with each rotation of the pulley o andconsequent spacing apart of the staples When a skipperin the blank maybe regulated by adjusting the rod 23 along the slot 25 of the pawl-lever24, which adjusts the throw of the pawl. The skipper mechanism may bechanged for blanks of different lengths by adjusting the rod 102 alongthe slotted lever 103 to cause the ratchet-wheel 91 to rotate exactlyonce in the passage of the blank across the stapledrivers.

The feeding mechanism for the staple-Wire has a double regulation forregulating the length of the staples. This is effected by moving theupper end of the rod 59 along the lever 57 and moving the lower end ofthe rod 59 along the lever 62. Such double regulation is necessary for asufliciently wide range of fine adjustment in the length of the finishedstaples.

The regular feeding of the staple-wires is controlled by the upper andlower grooved feed-rollers 67 and 74, the lower ones being movable toregulate the grip upon or entirely release the wire. Thus wires ofdifferent gage may be employed for the staples. In the event that thecentral part of the blank is not to be provided with a binding-wire andno staples are therefore to be driven there the middle stapling devicemay be thrown out of action by simply lowering its under feedroller 74.

While I prefer to construct my improvements throughout as shown anddescribed,they may obviously be variously modified in the matter ofdetails of construction without departing from the spirit of theinvention as set forth in the claims.

What I claim as new, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is

1. In a machine for forming box-blanks of the nature described, thecombination with the drive-shaft, cleat-guides and stapling devices, offeed mechanism for the blank material comprising uppervperipherally-grooved sheet-engaging rollers and lower cleat-engagingrollers, and driving-gears on all of said rollers actuated from thedrive-shaft.

2. In a machine for forming box-blanks of the nature described, thecombination with the drive-shaft, cleat-guides and stapling devices, offeed mechanism for the blank material comprising upperperipherally-grooved sheet-engaging rollers and lower cleat-engagingrollers, intermittent driving mechanism actuated from said drive-shaft,and driving-gears on all of said rollers connected with saidintermittent driving mechanisnr.

3. In a machine for forming boX-blanks'of the nature described, thecombination with the drive-shaft, cleat-guides and stapling devices, offeed mechanism for the blank material comprising upperperipherally-grooved sheet-engaging rollers and lower cleat-engagingrollers, all geared together and actuated from said drive-shaft.

ITS

4:. In a machine for forming box-blanks of the nature described thecombination with the drive-shaft, cleat-guides and stapling devices, offeed mechanism for the blank material comprising upperperipherally-grooved sheet-engaging rollers and lower cleat-engagingrollers, all geared together at both their ends and actuated from saiddrive-shaft.

5. In a machine for forming box-blanks of the nature described, thecombination with the drive-shaft, cleat-guides and stapling devices,

V lowering means for said bearings.

7 In a machine for forming box-blanks of the nature described, thecombination with the lateral] y-adjustable staple-drivers, of astationary bar beneath said drivers, yokes slidingly mounted on saidbar, vertically-adjustable saddles on said yokes, and cleat-guides onthe saddles.

8. In a machine for forming box-blanks of the nature described, thecombination with the laterally-adjustable staple-drivers, of astationary bar beneath said drivers, yokes slidingly mounted on saidbar, vertically-adjustable sad dles on said yokes, and cleat-guides andanvil-blocks on the saddles.

9. The combination with the upper shaft and staple-drivers actuatedthereby, of means for feeding the box-blank material, a driving-pulleyon the said shaft, clutch mechanism between said pulley and shaft, askipper-wheel, intermittent rotating means for said wheel, spacingblockson said wheel, and disengaging mechanism for,said clutch in the path ofsaid spacing-blocks, substantially as and for the purpose set forth.

10. The combination with the upper shaft and staple-drivers actuatedthereby, of means for feeding the box-blank material, a drivingpulley onthe said shaft, clutch mechanism between said pulley and shaft, askipper-wheel, adjustable intermittent rotating means for said wheel,spacing-blocks on said wheel, and disengaging mechanism for said clutchin the path of said spacingblocks, substantially as and for the purposeset forth.

11. The combination with the upper shaft and staple-drivers actuatedthereby, of means for feeding the box-blank material, a drivingpulley onthe said shaft, clutch mechanism betweensaid pulley and shaft, askipper-wheel, intermittent rotating means for said wheel. adjustablespacing-blocks on said wheel, and disengaging mechanism for said clutchin the path of said spacing-blocks, substantially as and for the purposeset-forth.

12. The combination with the upper shaft and staple-drivers actuatedthereby, of means for feeding the box-blank material, adrivingmechanism, of a staple forming and driving device comprising aplate having a stapleforming opening, a wire bender movable through saidopening, means below said opening for receiving the staple, drivingmeans for the staple, a head through which the staple-wire is fedadjustable toward and away from said opening, an intermittingly-actuatedwire-cutter on said head, and intermittent: feed mechanism for thestaple-wire.

14:. The combination with the blank-feeding mechanism, of astaple-driving device comprising a plate having a staple-forming opening, a wire-bender movable through said opening, means below saidopening for receiving the staple, driving means for the staple, a headthrough which the staple-wire passes adjustable toward and away fromsaid opening, and feeding mechanism for the staple-wire comprising upperand lower feed-rollers adjustable with relation to each other toregulate the grip upon the wire or release the wire, substantially asset forth.

15. The combination with the blank-feeding mechanism, of astaple-driving device oom prising a stationary plate having astaple-form ing opening, means for feeding a wire across said opening,severing means for the wire, a staple-wheel provided with radial slots,intermittent rotating means for the wheel operating to turn the slotssuccessively into register with said staple-forming opening, and a reciprocating bar provided with a wire-bending arm movable through saidstaple-forming opening and operating to form the staples and depositthem in said slots, and a driving-arm movable in said slots to dischargethe staples, whereby in each reciprocation of the said rod one staple isformed and another staple is driven, substantially as and for thepurpose set forth.

16. The combination with the blank-feeding mechanism, of astaple-driving device comprising a stationary plate having astaple-forming opening, a cutter-head, a vertically-recip rocatingcutter-bar movable across said cutter- IZQ staples, and an arm in thepath of said cutterbar, operating in its upstroke to actuate the cutter,whereby in the downstroke of said vertically-reciprocating bar onestaple is formed and another is driven and in its upstroke the blank fora third staple is formed, substantially as set forth.

ELLsWonTH' E. FLORA.

In presence of WALTER N. WINBERG, \V. B. DAVIES.

